4 Ways to Stop an Afib Episode at Home

There are four ways to stop an Afib episode.

1. Vagal Maneuver: The vagal maneuver is an at home method many people use to try to stop a rapid heartbeat including atrial fibrillation. This maneuver activates your vagus nerve, which can then slow down your heart rate and potentially stop an episode of atrial fibrillation.
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2. Biofeedback like Deep Breathing, Meditation, and Yoga: Biofeedback comes in many forms, but it is best described as a system to help your mind relax your body functions that you cannot usually control. including your heart rate. Most commonly, biofeedback is a type of therapy in which you use electronic monitoring devices to monitor of some of the body’s involuntary functions, such as heart rate, to train yourself to have voluntary control over those functions. Most people will not have electronic monitoring devices readily available at home during an AFib attack. However, there are many other similar forms of biofeedback that you can do at home without specialized equipment.
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3. Exercise: Most of Dr. Morales’s patients that have described cardiovascular exercise as a method to get out of atrial fibrillation, such as going up and down a flight of stairs or using an exercise bicycle, have said that this works to get them out of Afib. There is no significant literature out there about how this works or how exercise can stop an Afib episode. Always discuss with your doctor if this method can be safe for you, especially during an Afib episode.
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4. Taking Additional Medications: Taking additional medications such as additional doses of beta-blocker medications or even anti-arrhythmic medications can be an option to keep someone out of the emergency room and potentially stop and Afib episode. When taking additional medications it is always very important to have a heart rate and blood pressure monitor available as many medications can lower a person’s blood pressure as well. Always discuss with your doctor if it is safe to take additional doses of your medications during an AFib episode.
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